Jason Manford has revealed he accidentally took sleeping tablets instead of his anti-anxiety medication before going on stage.
The 43-year-old comic made the blunder before his gig at the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre in Hexham on Wednesday, where he was testing material for his upcoming ‘A Manford All Seasons’ tour.
Manford took to X (formerly Twitter) the next day to share his mishap with his 548,000 followers.
Alongside a jokey picture of him asleep, he wrote: “Always check medicine labels kids! I thought I was taking an anti-anxiety tablet 30 minutes before my first gig, but it was in fact a sleeping tablet!”
He added: ““One of my most laid back gigs I’ve ever performed! And now the second!”
Always check medicine labels kids! I thought I was taking an anti-anxiety tablet 30 minutes before my first gig, but it was in fact a sleeping tablet! One of the most laid back gigs I’ve ever performed! And now the second! pic.twitter.com/Pi6U5Fy6EY
— Jason Manford (@JasonManford) September 25, 2024
His fans were quick to offer their support in the replies.
He seemingly got away with it according to one, who penned: “We would never have known in the second show. Thanks for a fantastic night out, very funny as always.
“In 2025, Jason Manford tours his new show ‘Pillow Talk’” quipped another.
While a third commended him for being open about taking medication for anxiety, writing: “Well done you for admitting that you take anti-anxiety medication. Once again proving that we’re all human and we can all suffer.”
It’s not the first time the Mancunian funny man has admitted to struggling with his mental health.
Back in 2019, he revealed that he battled with both depression and anxiety and he had been less active on social media as a result because he found it could trigger him.
In a video shared to Facebook, he explained: "I wouldn't go as far as to say a breakdown, but I had a struggle mentally and I found it very difficult to deal with.
"It's taken me this long to be brave enough to say it... I've been struggling, you know, finding things hard and I think sometimes social media can not help with that.”
Manford said it was not just trolls but also "bad news and nastiness... even down to comparing your life".
The father of five said at his lowest, he "felt like I'd let my kids down and I couldn't do my job any more".
He went on to share some advice he was given that he said "still gets me through to this day", which was "just because you're struggling, doesn't mean you're failing".
"The next time you're struggling, maybe say it to someone you love," he added.
